Day 4: Hanupatta to Photoksar
(20 km, 7 hours, Sirsis La 4850m)

View to Hanupatta-Valley

It's time to enjoy once more the gorgeous view to the Hanupatta-Valley before the route follows the steep path to the 4850 metres high Sirsis-La pass. Today 1600 metres in altitude are on the program - 800 metres ascent and 800 metres descent. The temperature decreases markedly while the softshell has to be replaced by a warmer jacket and the hands cry for a pair of warm gloves. The landscape and the climate become more and more harshly on the way to the third highest pass of the Trans-Zanskar trek.
Colored flags and an altar made of stones welcome the trekkers at the highest point of the Sirsis-La-Pass, which gives a great view to all the way down to Photoksar. The first part of the descent is very steep and it is amazing how the horsemen lead their horses and donkeys through the narrow zigzag path down the valley. The second part of the route is more flat and wild yaks - long-haired Himalayan mountain cows - plus big marmots can be spoted.
The camp lies close to Photoksar, a small village with white ancient houses surrounded by cultivated fields in the cloak of a huge rock.

Day 5: Photoksar to Sengge La Base
(25 km, 7.5 hours, Sengge La 5050m)

View from Sengge La

Todays ambitious target is the second highest pass on this trek - the 5050 metres hight Sengge-La pass
The ascent starts harmless passing a rocky moorland with lots of small streams and one or two yaks. On the right side lies a colossal and unusual snowcapped rock formation - which is the right end of the Sengge-La pass that appears on the horizon. A huge wall traversed by many pathes up to the top.

It's a good time to think of the hight, remember the altitude sickness and to reduce the walking speed.
The top of the Sengge-La pass is beautiful. As already on the Sirsis-La pass, colored flags welcome the trekkers at the highest point but the view to the Zanskar mountains is even more smashing.
Finally the path leads down to the camp at the bottom of Sengge-La at a more pleasant hight of 4200 metres.

Day 6: Sengge La base to Hanumana La Base
(25 km, 8 hours)

Klaus and Sebastian at the top of Sengge La

This day requires a lot of endurance due to many ups and downs and the long walking distance. The route follows the path up to the 4400 metres height Kiupa La and than down again to an altitude of 3900 metres, where a river has to be crossed. The walking boots have to be dry for the next kilometres this is why sandals may be a good idea because spiky stones make it difficult to pass the river shoeless.
After this challange the path climbs up to the Margo La at a height of 4500 metres, before a long arduous walk leads down to the monastery village Lingshed at a height of 3900 metres. There are two possibilities this day, the first is to stay the rest of the day in Lingshed and to visit the gompa and the second possibility is to keep on walking a hour or two and to camp at the Hanumana La base camp.